Sen. Rubio: Anti-abortion forces recruit a star

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is expected to sign on and sponsor Senate legislation that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, giving anti-abortion forces in Congress and the country a “star” supporter who is a potential 2016 Republican presidential nominee.

In breaking the story, conservative writer Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard gushed: “With Rubio’s presence, the bill is certain to gain enormous media attention and this more national visibility for the issue of limiting late term abortions.”

Rubio is in need of bolstering his right flank, after being part of the bipartisan “Gang of 8″ senators who wrote a sweeping immigration reform bill that passed the Senate on a 68-32 vote. The legislation faces grim prospects in the House, where Speaker John Boehner will not allow a floor vote on the Senate-passed bill.

The House has already passed a 20-week abortion bill. It’s unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and would face a certain veto by President Obama.

The Republican Party was once home to population control advocates — future President George H.W. Bush talked so much on the issue that House colleagues nicknamed him “Rubbers” — and a sizable pro-choice contingent. Abortion was legalized in Washington under a Republican governor, Dan Evans, in 1970.

Since Ronald Reagan, however, opposition to abortion has become a litmus test in winning the Republican presidential nomination . . . although Reagan did no more than pay lip service to the cause. Conversely, being pro-choice is now a requirement for Democrats seeking major office.

Rubio is a conservative elected in 2010 with Tea Party support. The issue is, however, not without risk for the Florida senator:

The House abortion legislation included no exceptions for rape and incest. The legislation was quickly amended, however, after its chief sponsor, Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., told the House Judiciary Committee: “The incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy is very low.”

In Texas, the Republican-run legislature is ramming through legislation that includes the 20 week provision, plus requirements that would shut down 37 of 42 clinics performing abortion in the Lone Star state. Still, thousands of women have turned out to protest the legislation, and been turned away when they sought to give testimony against it.

State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, a Republican sponsor, rebuffed efforts to include a rape and incest clause, with the words: “In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits whre a woman can get cleaned out.”

Polls show Americans of two minds on abortion.

They don’t approve of it, and disapprove of late-term abortions. At the same time, a majority in national polls believe the decision belongs to a woman, her family and her physician — not the state. And majorities oppose overturning the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, whose definition of viability meant legalizing abortion up to approximately the 24th week of pregnancy.

Lower courts have stayed or struck down several state anti-abortion laws than ran contrary to Roe v. Wade.

Republicans have continued to press the issue, even in states won by President Obama. Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a budget with anti-abortion provisions, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker just put his name to legislation that requires women to get an ultrasound test before terminating a pregnancy.